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The Loch Ness Monster

Loch Ness (n.): a lake in the Scottish highlands

Many lakes of Northern Scotland have ancient legends about monsters and the like. In 565 A.D., though, Loch Ness’s story was written down. The account tells of Saint Columba who saved a swimmer from a hungry lake monster. From then on rumors about the creature were repeated from time to time.

In 1933, after a new road was built along the edge of Loch Ness, the number of reports involving sightings of the monster soared.

The Surgeon’s Photograph

Probably the most famous picture of the Loch Ness monster was the “surgeon’s photo” (shown to the right) supposedly taken by Colonel Robert Wilson. This photo was acknowledged as a fake, though, by Christian Spurling, who helped build the model monster that was photographed. He admitted the hoax shortly before he died at age 90, in 1993.

Ever wondered what happens to the monster when Scotland’s Loch Ness freezes over? Well, stop wondering. It never freezes...too deep.

If there truly is something strange living in the lake there must be a breeding population. Perhaps anywhere from a dozen to a hundred individuals. There are a few photographs which seem to show more than one of the creatures together.

No bones or bodies have ever been found of the Loch Ness Monster and, short of draining the Loch, it seems impossible to disprove the existence of the creature.

The Museum of Natural History frequently receives requests for information concerning the Loch Ness Monster. A recent attempt to find the monster occurred in October, 1987 when 20 cruisers methodically swept the Loch with sonar equipment bouncing sound waves from the surface down to the bottom and electronically recording any contacts. Many salmon were found, but no monster.

Individuals interested in more information about the search for “Nessie” are encouraged to join The International Society of Cryptozoology, a scientific organization that critically looks at issues involving unknown creatures of unexpected form and size, and subjects them to technical review.

Did you know...

Chickens that lay white eggs descend from birds that nested in dark closed places. Those that lay brown eggs descend from birds that nested in light open places.